Adam Pope med 3 avhandlinger om dagens trening, her kommer del 1 og 2 - og nå er også del 3 lagt inn (nederst)
Adam Pope
So I saw the new boys in training today for the first time.
Marco Silvestri is 23 and I reckon will have cost in the region of 0.5m due to his age from Chievo Verona. Can't see it being millions up front for the ex U21 Italy stopper. Coach Neil Sullivan worked him, Stuart Taylor (who is a total giant) and Alex Cairns really hard. Sully is impressed with him, good rapport in 1 on 1 sessions between them and he seems a solid handler of the ball. That was backed up by Cairns who said as much to Sam Byram who I was chatting to. The deal has taken a while waiting for him to be registered with the FL.
Tommaso Bianchi played left side midfield today and looked a decent runner when I saw him on the track doing extra work as he catches up with the squad. Speaking to Matty Pears who helps condition the squad he testified to Bianchi's comfortable running style. He seems to have a bit of craft about him and apparently can play across the middle of the park. Officially not been confirmed as signed by club so not sure if he will play in Thursday's friendly here in Santa Cristina.
Nicola Salerno was at training early on today before going to Verona. He had been chatting to @leedsunitedItalia Fabrizio Trusiano about the potential signings of striker Soulemayne Doukara and Swiss international defenders Gaetano Berardi and Jonathan Rossini.
There were no more new faces at training today.
More to follow in a bit!
story
Adam Pope
Part 2 Wednesday at Santa Cristina
The training I saw was intense. With all players involved and no injuries it seems. I have to say the staff are happy with the response from the players and I feel there is a positivity about them when with all that has happened at the club could send it the other way.
There was a lot of pass and move (simplifying somewhat I know) drills and some full on 11 v 11 spells.
The teams lined up mainly 4-3-3 to my eye but also some 4-4-2 but don't read to much into that as there was a bit of diamond going on too.
Stephen Warnock scored an utter worldy too!
First game saw
S. Taylor ; Thompson , Killock, Skelton, C Taylor; Norris, Cook, White; Walters, Morison, Poleon
V
Cairns; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Tonge, Austin, Murphy, Bianchi; Hunt, Smith
Dawson and Blackman sat out whilst Silvestri trained with Neil Sullivan.
Second set up
S.Taylor; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Tonge (holding), Austin, Blackman; Murphy (behind) Smith, Poleon.
Versus
Silvestri ; Thompson, Killock, Skelton, C. Taylor; Norris, Cook, White; Dawson (behind) Walters, Morison.
Cairns trained with Neil Sullivan whilst Bianchi and Hunt sat out.
Overall it was pretty technical stuff which was rounded off by a compulsory ice bath in the rapid flowing river which saw the players haul themselves up a rope to dry land .... the kids watching loved that!
It may be a minor thing but the walk to training downhill for about 10 mins is countered by a massively steep climb on the way back 2 or 3 times a day. This is a tough schedule and nobody is breezing it.
...og her er del 3
Adam Pope
Part 3/3 from Santa Cristina on Wed July 9.
Some other things of note include the presence of Doctor Sergio Olla from Cagliari. He is working with the medical/ Physio teams for the fortnight here. He says he is impressed by the professionalism of the staff .
He also extolled the virtues of high altitude training, tranquility , fresh air, recovery times from training sessions . He obviously had worked with Cellino before like Salerno but it's not certain if he will come to Leeds as he has other commitments in Sardinia at present.
It was great to see Neil Sullivan still involved and I was really impressed with how he worked the keepers . Good rapport he is building with Silvestri . Taylor is an utter collossus by the way and with Cairns out here surely there will be something sorted re Paddy Kenny but no word yet.
Any senior players out here who might be expected to leave before August are putting a shift in it seems.
Byram seems to be coping with a full pre season so far which will be great if it continues after playing catch up last year.
Dave Hockaday seems in his element on the training pitch. He puts his point across forcefully and is pretty vocal .
Salerno is meant to be returning here tonight and Cellino is expected too . The feeling is that nobody really likes to say or do too much without Massimo knowing first !
The other names being mentioned as possible signings are 24 yr old centre back Giuseppe " The Warrior" Bellusci from Catania who is ex Italy U21 and 30 yr old Verona striker Daniele Cacia who where he has had a decent scoring
record of almost 1 in 2 games.
In the post McCormack era players seem to have knuckled down and carried on tbh. @leedsuniteditalia fan Fabrizio told me that Cellino had a stand off with Cagliari keeper Marchetti once. The Italy number 2 stopper was a strong character like McCormack. Cellino didn't play him for a season and then sold him . At least this deal works for United and Ross.
Also it was good to meet up with Rina and Paul who are well traveled Leeds fans from Shropshire who will be at the match tomorrow .
